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MINERVA -- The Edison football team is set to play its third straight road game, and while the Wildcats are looking forward to playing at home, the team is not looking past Minerva.
The undefeated Wildcats are set to take on the winless Lions at 7 p.m. Friday night at Hines Stadium.
Edison enters the game coming off a 35-0 victory against Independence. Against the Blue Devils, the Wildcats corrected some mistakes they made in Edison's season opening victory at Monroe Central.
"The kids took to our coaching," Edison (2-0) head coach Mike Collopy said. "We made some mistakes against Monroe Central, but they were correctable mistakes. Our kids were coachable, and they took to our coaching. As coaches, we had to evaluate our teaching technique.
"We played much better against Independence. Offensively, we corrected those mistakes. We sustained drives.
"Defensively, we tackled better. We lined up properly. We had the right technique. We were fundamentally sound. We did a good job.
"Special teams, we saw a big improvement. We were 5-for-5 on PATs, and coverage was very good.
"We just want to continue to make strides every day."
On the side, Minerva enters the game coming off of a 36-21 loss to Crestwood at home. The Lions led the Red Devils, 21-8, at halftime, but the boys from Portage County came storming back in the second half as they scored the final 28 points of the game.
"Minerva – on both sides of the ball – has the biggest defensive line and the biggest offensive line we have seen. They are the biggest team up front that we have seen.
"Offensively, their quarterback is dynamic. He's a good athlete. He can get outside the pocket. He's a good runner.
"Their running back is the best one we have seen. He does a good job of running outside of the tackles, but he can also hit it up inside. They have got some good receivers on the perimeter.
"Defensively, they are big up front. We have a lot to prepare for. They have some good athletes in the secondary. We are going to have to be prepared on both sides of the ball."
Edison opened the season with a 34-14 victory against Monroe Central, and the Seminoles and Blue Devils both put a lot of pressure on the Wildcats' offense. The Lions also are not afraid to blitz.
"They like to bring pressure up the middle and off the edge," Collopy said. "We are going to have to be able to move them. Coach (Jason) Fogle has been working with our offensive line. The coaches are doing a good job with them.
"We want to continue to improve. Week 2 is over with. Now, we have to get ready for this week."
Minerva opened the season with a 50-0 loss to East Liverpool at Patterson Field.
"Defensively, we are going to have to contain their quarterback," Collopy said. "We are going to have to stop their running back. We are going to have to a good job of tackling.
"Offensively, we are going to have to sustain drives. Our wide receivers blocked really well last week. It is a team game. We want to focus on what we are supposed to do on any play. Our goal is to get better."
The Lions enter this week on a 21-game losing streak.
Edison's first home game is in Week 4 Thursday against Oak Glen at the Edison Unified Sports Complex, however, the team is not looking past this week as the Wildcats will not turn their attention to the Golden Bears until after the final whistle blows Friday night.
"We had a good day of practice today," Collopy said. "We're going to practice tomorrow. We know what we worked on today and what we need to improve upon tomorrow. We are focused on Friday night. That is what we are working for. That's what we are preparing for. Once Friday night is over, we will start getting ready for next week."